European Commission to reduce minimum import price quarterly

The EU has published its decision to review the undertaking and the minimum import price (MIP) for crystalline PV products from China. As was proposed in July, the MIP will now be reduced quarterly beginning in October. For some Chinese manufacturers, the MIP, as well as a variable duty, is to be applied in future.

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mpd01605/6755068753/in/photostream/Author: MPD01605

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The European Commission has adopted a new regulation in the course of its interim review of the minimum module price undertaking. The MIP will decline quarterly, according to a decision published on Saturday.

In the future, distinction will be made between mono and multicrystalline cells and modules. The MIP will begin to be reduced from October, having been frozen during the inspection period. According to data from the EU Official Journal, prices after October 1st 2017 will be €0.19/W for multi-Si cells and €0.23/W for mono-Si cells, while for solar modules the MIP will stand at €0.37/W for multi-Si and €0.42/W for mono-Si.

Gradual reductions to the MIP are then planned for the following quarters. It is expected to fall to between €0.18 (cell) and €0.35 (module) by the third quarter of 2018.

Concerns regarding Taiwanese prices, which are being examined by authorities after a complaint was issued by the Taiwanese manufacturers, were dismissed by the Commission. It will, however, keep an eye on the progress of the investigation by Taiwan’s Fair Trade Commission.

At the same time, Brussels rejected complaints that reductions to the MIP were moving too slowly. The commission is assuming that, after massive price declines over the past three years, prices will not fall significantly below the level of Q1 2017 before September 2018.

The MIP is valid for all participating PV manufacturers. A number have been expelled for violations since the start of the undertaking, or chose to voluntarily withdraw from the agreement.

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For a large number of Chinese PV manufacturers not participating in the undertaking, a minimum import price, coupled with a variable duty, will be applied in the future. Antidumping duties for Chinese PV producers outside of the undertaking currently stand between 27.3 and 64.9%. Anti-subsidy duties of 11.5% are added to this. Combined duties to be levied in future should not reach higher than 76.4%, says the publication.

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